Hollow tube filling module and method of filling hollow tube using the same

ABSTRACT

A hollow tube filling module is disclosed. The hollow tube filling module is provided in plural, and the plurality of hollow tube filling modules are inserted into a hollow tube and are filled in the hollow tube. The hollow tube filling module includes a filling tube inserted into the hollow tube, the filling tube including a hollow inside, a first filling unit disposed along an inner wall of the filling tube, the first filling unit including a hollow inside, and a second filling unit disposed in the hollow of the first filling unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a hollow tube filling module. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a plurality of filling modules used to fill a long hollow tube.

The present disclosure also relates to a method of filling a hollow tube using a hollow tube filling module. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method of filling a hollow tube using a plurality of filling modules to fill a long hollow tube.

BACKGROUND ART

When a product is molded using a casting method, if a hollow tube is used as a core, a hollow product with a hollow inside can be made. When the hollow tube is used as the core, a filling material is filled in the hollow tube to prevent the hollow tube from being crushed during a casting process. After that, the hollow tube is inserted into a mold, and a molten metal is supplied to the mold to manufacture a hollow product with a hollow inside.

The molding method described above is disclosed in ‘Korean Patent No. 10-1826017’. In a method of manufacturing a hollow product using a core disclosed in ‘Korean Patent No. 10-1826017’, when a filling material is filled in a steel pipe, the filling material has to be filled in the entire steel pipe at a time. Hence, there is a problem in that it is difficult to evenly fill the filling material in the steel pipe as a length of the steel pipe increases. In particular, when the length of the steel pipe exceeds 1 m, it may be difficult to evenly fill the filling material in the steel pipe.

-   [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent No. 10-1826017

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

An object of the present disclosure is to address the above-described and other problems.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an independent filling module capable of being inserted into a hollow tube.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of filling a hollow tube using a plurality of filling modules.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the above-described and other objects, in one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a hollow tube filling module that is provided in plural, the plurality of hollow tube filling modules being inserted into a hollow tube and filled in the hollow tube, the hollow tube filling module comprising a filling tube inserted into the hollow tube, the filling tube including a hollow inside, a first filling unit disposed along an inner wall of the filling tube, the first filling unit including a hollow inside, and a second filling unit disposed in the hollow of the first filling unit.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method (S100) of filling a hollow tube using a hollow tube filling module, the method comprising a step (S110) of preparing the hollow tube, a step (S120) of comparing a hollow ratio in the hollow tube with a reference value, a step (S130) of inserting the filling module into the hollow tube when the hollow ratio is greater than or equal to the reference value, and a step (S140) of pressurizing an outer wall of the hollow tube when the hollow ratio is less than the reference value.

Advantageous Effects

Effects of a hollow tube filling module according to the present disclosure are described as follows.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the present disclosure can provide a filling module that is easy to inert into a hollow tube.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the present disclosure can provide a filling module that evenly fills a filling material in a long hollow tube.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the present disclosure can provide a method of filling a hollow tube using a plurality of filling modules.

Additional scope of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given blow. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples such as embodiments of the present disclosure are given merely by way of example, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a hollow product 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section of a hollow tube 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal section of a filling module 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates that a filling module 200 of FIG. 3 is filled in a hollow tube 100 of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5(a) illustrates a cross section of a hollow tube 100 and a filling module 200 of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 5(b) illustrates a cross section of a hollow tube 100 and a filling module 200 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of filling a hollow tube 100 of FIG. 2 using a filling module 200 of FIG. 3 .

MODE FOR INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In general, a suffix such as “module” and “unit” may be used to refer to elements or components. Use of such a suffix herein is merely intended to facilitate description of the present disclosure, and the suffix itself is not intended to give any special meaning or function. It will be noted that a detailed description of known arts will be omitted if it is determined that the detailed description of the known arts can obscure the embodiments of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings.

The terms including an ordinal number such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by such terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components.

When any component is described as “being connected” or “being coupled” to other component, this should be understood to mean that another component may exist between them, although any component may be directly connected or coupled to the other component. In contrast, when any component is described as “being directly connected” or “being directly coupled” to other component, this should be understood to mean that no component exists between them.

A singular expression can include a plural expression as long as it does not have an apparently different meaning in context.

In the present disclosure, terms “include” and “have” should be understood to be intended to designate that illustrated features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof are present and not to preclude the existence of one or more different features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, or the possibility of the addition thereof.

In the drawings, sizes of the components may be exaggerated or reduced for convenience of explanation. For example, the size and the thickness of each component illustrated in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for convenience of explanation, and thus the present disclosure is not limited thereto unless specified as such.

If any embodiment is implementable differently, a specific order of processes may be performed differently from the order described. For example, two consecutively described processes may be performed substantially at the same time, or performed in the order opposite to the described order.

FIG. 1 illustrates a hollow product 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The hollow product 10 may be made of a cast product including a hollow tube 100. The hollow product 10 may be formed in a cylindrical shape. The hollow tube 100 may be formed to extend from a first side 110 disposed at an upper part of the hollow product 10 to the inside of the hollow product 10. The hollow tube 100 inside the hollow product 10 may be formed to extend along the inside of an outer wall of the hollow product 10. The hollow tube 100 inside the hollow product 10 may have a coil spring shape. The hollow tube 100 inside the hollow product 10 may be formed to extend to a second side 120 disposed at a lower part of the hollow product 10. A longitudinal direction of the hollow tube 100 may be a direction in which the hollow tube 100 extends from the first side 210 to the second side 120. The hollow tube 100 may be formed in the form of a circular pipe.

In order to make the hollow product 10, after the hollow tube 100 is installed inside a mold (not shown), a molten metal may be poured into the mold to mold the hollow product 10. In this instance, in order to prevent the hollow tube 100 from being crushed by a pressure of the molten metal, a filling module 200 may be inserted into the hollow tube 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section of the hollow tube 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. When the hollow tube 100 is formed in a coil spring shape, the hollow tube 100 may include a curved section. FIG. 2 illustrates the hollow tube 100 in the form of a straight line for convenience of explanation, by way of example. A hollow 150 may be formed in the hollow tube 100. The hollow 150 may be formed in the longitudinal direction of the hollow tube 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal section of the filling module 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The filling module 200 may include a filling tube 210 including a hollow, a first filling unit 220 filled inside the filling tube 210, and a second filling unit filled inside the first filling unit 220.

The filling tube 210 may be formed in a circular pipe shape. That is, a hollow may be formed inside the filling tube 210. An outer diameter of the filling tube 210 may be less than an inner diameter of the hollow tube 100. A difference in length between the outer diameter of the filling tube 210 and the inner diameter of the hollow tube 100 may be a minimum assembly tolerance between the hollow tube 100 and the filling tube 210. A longitudinal direction of the filling tube 210 may be the same as the longitudinal direction of the hollow tube 100. A length of the filling tube 210 in the longitudinal direction may be 1 m or less. The filling tube 210 may be inserted into the hollow 150 in the longitudinal direction of the hollow tube 100.

A material of the filling tube 210 and a material of the hollow tube 100 may include the same metal material or a non-ferrous metal material. The material of the filling tube 210 and the material of the hollow tube 100 may include metal or non-ferrous metal material that can be combined with each other. When a coefficient of friction between the filling tube 210 and the hollow tube 100 is reduced, it may be easier to push the filling tube 210 into the hollow tube 100. When a part of an inner wall of the hollow tube 100 and a part of an outer wall of the filling tube 210 are melted by a high temperature of the molten metal during a high pressure casting process, the inner wall of the hollow tube 100 and the outer wall of the filling tube 210 may be coupled to each other.

The first filling unit 220 may be disposed to have a predetermined thickness along the perimeter of an inner wall of the filling tube 210. A hollow may be formed inside the first filling unit 220.

A material of the first filling unit 220 may include a water-soluble powder. The water-soluble powder may have a porosity of 3% or more. The material of the first filling unit 220 may include water-soluble particles. The water-soluble particles may have a porosity of 3% or more. Hence, the first filling unit 220 can be easily removed when a water jet is sprayed.

The second filling unit 230 may be disposed in a hollow of the first filling unit 220. The second filling unit 230 may fill the hollow of the first filling unit 220.

A material of the second filling unit 230 may include an inorganic powder or a metal powder. The inorganic powder or the metal powder may have a porosity of 5% or more and 50% or less. The material of the second filling unit 230 may include inorganic particles or metal particles. The inorganic particles or the metal particles may have a porosity of 5% or more and 50% or less. When the first filling unit 220 is removed with the water jet, a gap is formed between the filling tube 210 and the second filling unit 230, and thus the second filling unit 230 can be easily removed.

Since an assembly tolerance is formed between the inner wall of the hollow tube 100 and the outer wall of the filling tube 210, and the hollow tube 100 and the filling tube 210 are formed of a metal or non-ferrous metal material, it can be easier to install the filling module 200 in the hollow 150. Hence, even if a longitudinal length of the hollow tube 100 is long, the filling module 200 can be evenly filled in the hollow tube 100 since it is easy to fill the hollow 150 with the plurality of filling modules 200.

FIG. 4 illustrates that the filling module 200 is filled in the hollow tube 100.

The filling module 200 may be inserted into the hollow tube 100. Two or more filling modules 200 may be inserted into the hollow tube 100. Hence, a gap G may be formed between the filling module 200 and the filling module 200. After casting, when the first filling unit 220 and the second filling unit 230 are removed, the filling tube 210 may remain in the hollow tube 100. In this instance, a cooling function of the hollow tube 100 is not reduced due to the gap G between the filling tubes 210.

Unlike the above description, before the filling modules 200 are inserted, the plurality of filling modules 200 may be physically attached. In this case, after casting, when the first filling unit 220 and the second filling unit 230 are removed, the gap G may not occur even between the filling tubes 210 remaining inside the hollow tube 100.

FIG. 5(a) illustrates a cross section of the hollow tube 100 and the filling module 200. After the hollow tube 100 is filled with the filling module 200, a pressure may be applied to the outer wall of the hollow tube 100. When the pressure is applied to the outer wall of the hollow tube 100, the assembly tolerance between the inner wall of the hollow tube 100 and the outer wall of the filling tube 210 can be reduced. That is, the inner wall of the hollow tube 100 and the outer wall of the filling tube 210 may contact each other. In this instance, since the inside of the filling tube 210 is filled with the first filling unit 220 and the second filling unit 230, the filling tube 210 may not be crushed inward.

Hence, it may be difficult to remove the filling module 200 from the hollow tube 100. In addition, when the hollow tube 100 is put into a mold and the hollow product 10 is manufactured by casting, the deformation of the hollow tube 100 resulting from the pressure of the molten metal can be minimized.

FIG. 5(b) illustrates a cross section of a hollow tube 100 and a filling module 200 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Unlike the above description, the hollow tube 100 and the filling tube 210 may have a rectangular pipe shape. The first filling unit 220 may have a rectangular shape according to the shape of the filling tube 210. The second filling unit 230 may have a circular shape.

Unlike the above description, the hollow tube 100, the filling tube 210, the first filling unit 220, or the second filling unit 230 may be in the form of a triangle, a rectangle, a polygon, a semicircle, etc.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of filling the hollow tube 100 using the filling module 200. FIG. 6 is illustrated and described together with FIGS. 2 to 5 .

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5 , a method S100 of filling a hollow tube 100 using a filling module 200 may comprise a step S110 of preparing a hollow tube. In this step S110, the hollow tube 100 in which a hollow 150 is formed may be provided.

The method S100 of filling the hollow tube 100 using the filling module 200 may comprise a step S120 of comparing a hollow ratio in the hollow tube with a reference value. This step S120 may determine whether the hollow 150 inside the hollow tube 100 is filled with the filling module 200. As the hollow 150 of the hollow tube 100 is more filled with the filling module 200, the hollow ratio in the hollow tube 100 is reduced.

The reference value may be close to zero. When the hollow ratio is greater than the reference value, a portion that is not filled with the filling module 200 may remain in the hollow 150. When the hollow ratio is less than the reference value, most of the hollow 150 may be filled with the filling module 200.

The method S100 of filling the hollow tube 100 using the filling module 200 may comprise a step S130 of inserting the filling module 200. In this step S130, the filling module 200 may be inserted into the hollow 150 inside the hollow tube 100. When the hollow ratio is greater than or equal to the reference value in the previous step S120, this step S130 may be performed. When this step S130 is completed, the method S100 may go back to the previous step S120.

The method S100 of filling the hollow tube 100 using the filling module 200 may comprise a step S140 of pressurizing an outer wall of the hollow tube 100. In this step S140, a gap between the outer wall of the filling module 200 and the inner wall of the hollow tube 100 can be reduced by pressurizing the outer wall of the hollow tube 100 filled with the filling module 200. When the hollow ratio is less than the reference value in the previous step S120, the previous step S120 may be terminated and this step S140 may be performed.

Some embodiments or other embodiments of the present disclosure described above are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other. Configurations or functions of some embodiments or other embodiments of the present disclosure described above can be used together or combined with each other.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential features of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in all aspects and should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the present disclosure should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within an equivalent scope of the present disclosure are included in the scope of the present disclosure. 

1. A hollow tube filling module that is provided in plural, the plurality of hollow tube filling modules being inserted into a hollow tube and filled in the hollow tube, the hollow tube filling module comprising: a filling tube inserted into the hollow tube, the filling tube including a hollow inside; a first filling unit disposed along an inner wall of the filling tube, the first filling unit including a hollow inside; and a second filling unit disposed in the hollow of the first filling unit.
 2. The hollow tube filling module of claim 1, wherein the filling tube and the hollow tube are formed of the same metal material.
 3. The hollow tube filling module of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube includes a metal, and wherein the filling tube includes a metal that is able to be combined with the hollow tube.
 4. The hollow tube filling module of claim 1, wherein the first filling unit is formed in the form of a powder or particles.
 5. The hollow tube filling module of claim 4, wherein the second filling unit is formed in the form of a powder or particles.
 6. The hollow tube filling module of claim 5, wherein the first filling unit includes a water-soluble material, and wherein the second filling unit includes an inorganic material or a metal material.
 7. The hollow tube filling module of claim 6, wherein the first filling unit has a porosity of 3% or more, and wherein the second filling unit has a porosity of 5% or more and 50% or less.
 8. The hollow tube filling module of claim 1, wherein a cross section of the hollow tube has a circular shape or a polygonal shape.
 9. A method (S100) of filling a hollow tube using a hollow tube filling module, the method comprising: a step (S110) of preparing the hollow tube; a step (S120) of comparing a hollow ratio in the hollow tube with a reference value; a step (S130) of inserting the filling module into the hollow tube when the hollow ratio is greater than or equal to the reference value; and a step (S140) of pressurizing an outer wall of the hollow tube when the hollow ratio is less than the reference value.
 10. The method (S100) of claim 9, wherein the at least two filling modules are inserted into the hollow tube.
 11. The method (S100) of claim 10, wherein a gap is formed between two adjacent filling modules among the plurality of filling modules.
 12. The method (S100) of claim 10, wherein the two or more filling modules are physically coupled to each other before the two or more filling modules are inserted into the hollow tube. 